The Saguaro Traverse
- OTG Crew
- Dec 9, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 12
The iconic Saguaro cacti of the American southwest, reaching heights in excess of 70 feet and living for over 200 years, stand sentinel around Tucson. This majestic backdrop sets the stage for the Saguaro Traverse, a 293-mile journey through some of the Sonoran Desert's most captivating landscapes. You'll be amazed at the stark contrast between the urban bustle of Tucson and the serene beauty that awaits just beyond its borders.
Route Overview
Trip Length & Season
Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 293 miles, 3-5 days Season: Generally October thru early May. While summer travel is possible, the head often exceeds 110F in this part of the Sonoran desert. The road to Mt Lemmon via Control Road is often gated during the winter months, when snow makes travel along the dirt road dangerous. It is possible to reach the top of Mt Lemmon via the paved road (Highway 39) that runs up its western flanks through the Catalina Foothills. Highway 39 typically remains open during the winter, but may see brief closures closed due to snow storms. >> Check this page for Control Road's current status.
Digital Maps & GPX Files
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Technical Ratings & Terrain
Avg Technical Rating: 2-3
Peak Technical Rating: 3-4
Typical Terrain: Expect a mix of wide graded dirt roads, rockier and bumpier secondary tracks including some tighter sections with encroaching brush (especially through Ironwood NM and the northern section), a few sections have deeper sand, and there is some interconnecting pavement.
Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans
Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4
Recommended Moto: A mid-weight bike is recommended given the amount of moderate terrain.
Adventure Vans: This route is right on the edge of what is recommended for Sprinters and Transit Vans. Given the amount of tighter trails with lots of encroaching brush and small trees on the first third of the route, high roof vans are not recommended. Beginners shouldn't attempt this track, but more experienced drivers who are accustomed to rocky and some off camber terrain may wish to give it a go. Expect to pick up your fair share of pinstripes on some of the tighter sections.
Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear
Fuel: There are numerous fuel stops along this route. Fuel typically isn't further than 100 miles away. Places to refuel include Tucson near the beginning of the route, Picture Rocks, north of East Sasco Drive (Interstate 10), Oracle, San Manuel, and Tanque Verde. Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: no specialized gear is recommended for this adventure.
Alternative Routes
Control Road Bypass
Distance: 11 miles
Technical Rating: Paved road
Use this route when Control Road is gated during the winter time. Check this page for Control Road's current status.
Chimney Rock track
Distance: 10 miles
Technical Rating: 6
For folks looking to kick things up a few notches, consider the moderately technical Chimney Rock track, which is a semi-loop that passes the famed Chimney Rock, which also has some great camping as well. Expect lots of rocky trails, beautiful scenery and a few hidden tanks (water holes).
Camping Recommendations
The Saguaro Traverse provides some incredible opportunities to camp in the Sonoran desert and Saguaro cacti forest. However, dispersed camping is not permitted on some portions of the route, such as National Park Land. Dispersed camping is generally permitted on BLM round in/around Ironwood Forest National Monument, near East Park Link Drive, and the northern section of the track between highway 79 and highway 77. There are some minimal dispersed camping opportunities in the Mt Lemmon Area and Reddington Pass (just make sure you're on National Forest land). Car camping is not permitted within Saguaro National Park. Camping on Arizona State Land does require a permit (more info).
Discovery Points
Old Tucson
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Red Hills Visitor Center x
Saguaro National Park (Tuscon Mountain unit)
Prehistoric Rock Art (Signal Hill petroglyphs)
Ironwood Forest National Monument
Titan II Missile Base
Silverbell Cemetery
Sasco ghost town
Santa Cruz River
96 Ranch ruins
Peppersauce Cave
Control Road
Mt Lemmon
Mt Lemmon viewpoint
San Pedro River
Reddington Pass
Tanque Verde Falls
Rincon Mountain Visitor Center (Sagaruo NP)
Cactus Forest Scenic Drive
Desert Ecology Trail
Javalina Rocks
Land Managers & Other Resources
Permits & Papers
You will need to pay the day use fees or have an America the Beautiful Pass to visit Saguaro National Park.
Adventure Badge OTG has partnered with All Roads Taken to offer an adventure badge for this route. >> Buy your adventure badge today!
Route Details
The mighty Saguaro cactus has long been emblematic of the American Southwest. Many of these majestic giants reach heights in excess of 40 feet, with the tallest among them growing to nearly 80 feet. The Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona is where the Saguaro thrives, alongside mesquite, prickly pear, cholla, ironwood trees, and a rich variety of wildflowers that bloom after seasonal rainfalls. This unique ecosystem thrives on the region’s bimodal rainfall pattern, supporting a remarkable diversity of plants and animals like Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, desert tortoises, and Harris's hawks. The winter rains and summer monsoons have earned the Sonoran Desert its reputation as the greenest desert in the world. In spring, the desert comes alive with vibrant color as wildflowers bloom, and iconic plants like the saguaro, prickly pear, and ocotillo display their striking beauty in unique ways.
The nearly 300-mile-long Saguaro Traverse is a tribute to the beauty of this corner of the Sonoran Desert. Even with the track's general proximity to the Tucson area, the eastern and northern portions of the adventure see a lot less traffic than you might expect! We begin our adventure in the western foothills of Tucson, beyond some of the city's most iconic historic districts, like El Presidio. Within a few miles, you'll be driving through the rugged canyons and Saguaro-filled mountains of Saguaro National Park (Tucson Mountain District, Discovery Point). If you’re feeling the urge to explore on foot, the park offers numerous hiking trails. If you're looking to hit the dirt with your rig, continue onto Hohokam and Golden Gate Roads, two of the most iconic scenic drives in Saguaro National Park. Be sure to make the short hike to the Signal Hill Petroglyphs (Discovery Point).
As you leave Saguaro National Park behind, you’ll make your way to Ironwood Forest National Monument (Discovery Point), named for the desert ironwood trees that are so prevalent in this corner of the Sonoran Desert. These trees are known for their extremely dense, hard wood and long lifespan, with some specimens living for over 1,500 years. The monument protects one of the largest remaining stands of desert ironwood trees in the United States, making it a critical area for preserving this unique species. Continuing north, the route passes the old Silverbell townsite and the massive pit mines that have been dug into the western flanks of the Silver Bell Mountains. While there’s not much to see at the old Silverbell townsite today, the Silverbell Cemetery (Discovery Point) is definitely worth a quick stop.
As Silverbell Road continues northward, it passes the much more impressive Sasco ghost town. Sasco’s history dates to the late 1800s, when the area was experiencing a mining boom. The Sasco mine extracted primarily copper, along with smaller amounts of gold and silver. Today, many of the ruins of the mining town still remain, including the 30-foot-tall brick smelter, railroad tracks, and numerous concrete foundations.
Crossing I-10, the route passes through a patchwork of BLM and state trust land. The section that parallels East Park Link Drive is also a favorite among snowbirds boondocking in the desert. However, it's the section east of Highway 79 that we find most interesting. Many of the trails here are narrow, a bit rockier, with various off-camber sections. A stop by the historic 96 Ranch and its numerous ruins (Discovery Point) is a must for anyone visiting the area. The route wraps its way around the northern flanks of the Ninetysix Hills as it makes its way south toward Oracle. Like the section through Ironwood Forest National Monument, don’t expect to see a lot of people out by the Ninetysix Hills, which leads to excellent camping opportunities, especially for those seeking desert solitude.
The final leg of the track traverses the Catalina and Rincon Mountains. From Oracle, the route climbs up the backside of Mt. Lemmon via Control Road (Control Road may be closed during the winter; more information above). Because Control Road is so narrow, it was once a one-way road built by the military as an access route, but it is now open to the general public. The road leads to the top of Mt. Lemmon (Discovery Point), which offers incredible views of Tucson and the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
You'll need to retrace your tracks back down the mountain before taking a right onto Black Hills Road. This section of the track briefly parallels the San Pedro River before heading up and over the Rincon Mountains. The last stretch of dirt takes you up and over Reddington Pass. The road is wide and graded with a few bumps along the way, but it also features some of the best views along the entire track. Eventually, you'll find yourself along the scenic Cactus Forest Drive in the Rincon Mountain Unit of Saguaro National Park. There are numerous viewpoints worth stopping at, in addition to Javelina Rocks (Discovery Point). The route concludes at the Rincon Mountain Unit Visitor Center (Discovery Point).
Gallery
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